JAZZ: MARIO BUAZA ORCHESTRA

By Robert Palmer

Published: July 6, 1987

Mario Bauza and his Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra made a mightily musical tumult at S.O.B.'s on Thursday. Mr. Bauza, a Cuban reed man and trumpeter who played with Cab Calloway and Chick Webb before spending 35 years as musical director for Machito's Latin jazz orchestra, certainly knows how to mold a collection of capable musicians into a first-class band. His brass and reed sections were precise and sparkling, and his percussionists threatened to lift the bandstand with their intensely propulsive variations on Cuban rhythms. The music's energy and good humor were irresistible, but the exuberance never got out of hand; Mr. Bauza had everything under control at all times.

There were inventive solos from Sergio George, a pianist whose rhythmic dexterity was a marvel, and from Conrad Herwig, a trombonist, and Joe Lovano, a tenor saxophonist. Mr. Bauza himself played rich, creamy alto saxophone obligatos.

A parade of singers took their turns in front of the microphone. Rudy Calzado, a singer and percussionist from Santiago de Cuba and Graciela, formerly a featured vocalist with the Machito Orchestra, recalled the glory days of the Cuban dance band. Sandra Rodriguez was spirited and swinging, and Carlos (Patato) Valdez sang a traditional guaguanco while improvising with great dexterity and melodic imagination on a set of tuned conga drums.